Ring rail latch for spinning frames and the like



July 2, 1963 B. B. ROGERS 3,095,684

RING RAIL LATCH FOR SPINNING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 8, 1961 BOB@mls;

EZ-l2 BY gajmdlw im ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,095,684 RING RAILLATCH FOR SPINNING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Bobo B. Rogers, 2407 WallaceAve., Spartanburg, S.C. Filed Nov. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 151,052 Claims.(S7-54) 'I'he present invention relates to spinning frames and the like,and more particularly to an improved latch mechanism for retaining thering rail in the depressed position.

Conventionally, the ring rail on a spinning frame is traversed relativeto the spindles by a builder mechanism upwardly from a starting positionto a finishing position. To doi'f the -full bobbins from the spindles,the ring rail must be moved to a depressed or dofling position closelyadjacent to the bottom of the iilled bobbins. The conventional mechanismfor moving the ring rail to the depressed or dotling position comprisesa foot treadle upon which the operator places his foot and exerts down-Ward pressure thereon to manually move the ring rail to the doffingposition.

Due to the large force which is required to move the ring rail to the:doiiing position, it is difficult for the operator to manually engageconventional latches. Also, difficulty has been encountered in stoppingthe ring rail at the correct position for engagement of the latches andthis is particularly tr-ue with the slot type of latch. In this regard,yan inherent deficiency in all of these prior latches is that noeffective means is provided for limiting the ldownward movement of thefoot treadle toward the dotling position which sometimes results in thering rail being moved too far. When this occurs, the ring rail is movedinto contact with the tapes which drive the spindles resulting in damageto the tapes due to friction and possible breakage thereof. Thismaterially reduces the life of such tapes and thereby materiallyincreases the maintenance cost of the machine. Also, the ring travelersare moved to a position below the bottom of the bobbins which results inthe yarn being wound around the spindle. It is therefore necessary forthis yarn to Ibe removed vfrom the spindles before the same can be againplaced into production.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved latch mechanism for maintaining the ring rail in the dotiingposition which is automatically moved into operative latchin-g positionwhen the ring rail is moved to this position.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved latching mechanism of the character last described wherein thelatch mechanism is biased toward the latched position and includes a camsurface thereon which is positioned in the path of travel of the foot`treadle toward the dotiing position such that the latch mechanism ismoved from its normal position as the foot treadle moves thereby and issnapped into latching position thereover when the treadle moves out ofcontact with the cam surface.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a latchingmechanism of the character described wherein the downward movement ofthe ring rail is limited such that the same does not move below thebottom end of the bobbin.

y Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectsWill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in

whicht FIGURE 1 is aside elevational view of a spinning frameincorporating the features of the present invention with portions brokenaway;

r FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the latch mechanism andadjacent parts of the builder mechanism 3,095,684 Patented July 2, 1963ice 2 shown in the lower right-hand portion of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 3-3 inFIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a spinning frame 10 whichincludes a frame 11, a plurality of rotating spindles 12 driven inconventional manner by tapes 13. Tapes 13 are driven by the conventionalcylinder (not shown) which is rotated by a pulley 14. Pulley 14 isdriven by a plurality of belts 15 which in turn are driven by a drivepulley 16 of a motor 17.

Spindles 12 support suitable bobbins 18 on which is wound the yarnsuppliedby suitable roving bobbins 19 supported by a creel 20 mounted onIframe 11. The roving from bobbins 18 passes through a suitable draftingmechanism 21 downwardly through suitable thread guides (not shown) andthrough a traveler (not shown) mounted on suitable rings which in turnare mounted on a ring rail 22.

Ring rail 22 is mounted for traversing movement longitudinally ofspindles 12 by a pair of lifter rods 23 slidably mounted in suitablebearings 24 mounted on iframe 11. A `lifter arm 25 is pivotallyconnected at one end to the lower end of each of the lifter rods 23 andat the other end to brackets 26 mounted on frame 111 by a pivot pin 27.Lifter arms 25 are moved about the pivots 27 by a suitable buildermechanism (not shown) in a manner which is conventional in this art andIforms no part of this invention.

A foot treadle member 28 is tixedly mounted on `one of the lifterarms`25 and is adapted to receive thereon the foot of an operator ofthespinning frame to move the ring rail 22 downwardly against the counterbalance weights (not shown) to a depressed position for doing of thebobbins 18 from the spindles 12. -It is extremely desirable in movingthe ring rail to the doliing position that the same not move downwardly.beyond the lower end of the bobbins 18 to prevent the yarn from beingwound on the spindles 12 and to prevent the ring rail 22 from cominginto contact with the tapes 13.

A latching mechanism 30 comprises a lirst member 31` which includes agenerally horizontally extending portion 32. Member 3-1 is mounted onframe 11 by a bolt member 33 which penetrates through alined openings inthe frame 11 and the portion 32 of member 31 and threadably receives anut 34 on the opposite end. A second member 35 is mounted on member 3-2for vertical adjustment relative to frame r11 and hence ring rail 22 bya pair of bolt members 36 which penetrate through a vertical elongateslot 37 and through suitable openings formed in member 35 and alinedwith said slot. Bolt members 36 have a pair of nuts 38 threadablymounted on the opposite end thereof for locking member 35 in adjustedposition. Member 35 has a generally horizontally extending portionextending outwardly therefrom in a direction and of such length so as tounderlie` treadle member 28.

Member 35 has an elongate opening 41 formed therein, lthe lower end ofwhich is spaced slightly above portion 40. A latch member 42 ispivotally mounted on member 35 within slot 41 by a -bolt 43 whichextends through alined openings `formed in member 35 and latch member 42threadably receives a nut member 44 on the opposite end thereof. It isnoted that the opening in latch member 42 is of slightly greaterdiameter than bolt 43- to allow free pivotal movement of latch member42.

Latch member 42 lhas a cam surface 45 defining the front edge, said camsurface curving downwardly and outwardly from the pivot point formed bybolt 43, such that at least the lower front corner portion of latchmember 42 is normally positioned in the path of travel of treadle member28. Latch member 42 is movable about 3 its pivot 43 from this normalposition to a position out of the path of travel of the treadle member28 by the engagement of cam surface 45..

A leaf spring member 50 is mounted on member 35 by a pair of bolts 51threadably received in suitable internally threaded openings formed inmember 35. Spring member 50 extends downwardly from bolts 51 to aposition substantially even with the lower edge of latch member 42 andengages the lowermost rear corner. Spring member 50 there-by biaseslatch member 42 to the aforementioned normal position in the path oftravel of foot treadle member 30, but allows the same to move about itspivot 43 out of the path of travel as the treadle member movesdownwardly and engages the cam surface 45.

In operation, when it is desired to doff the bobbins 1S from thespindles 12, the ring rail 22 is normally positioned at the highestelevation in its traversing movement of the spindles 12. To move thering rail to the dofling position so that the bobbins 1S may readily beremoved from spindles 12, the operator places his foot on the treadlemember 28 and applies downward pressure thereto. This downward pressureovercomes the action of the counterweights (not shown) and moves thering rail 22 downwardly.

As the treadle member 28 moves downwardly, the same engages the camsurface 45 on latch member 42 and cams the latch member rearwardly -orto the left, as shown in FIGURE 3, about its pivot 43 and against theaction of spring 50. As treadle member 28 continues its downwardmovement, the same moves past the lower front corner, or right-handcorner in FIGURE 3, of latch member 42 and engages the horizontallyextending stop portion 40 which limits the downward movement thereof.The latch member 42 is moved back to the normal position in the path oftravel of treadle member 28 by spring member `50 as the treadle membermoves downwardly past the lower front corner. The construction and shapeof the latch member 42 is such that when the operator releases thedownward pressure on treadle member 28, the counterweights will raisethe treadle member upwardly until the same engages the bottom surface oflatch mem-ber 42 which will restrict further upward movement and willreleasably hold the treadle member, and hence the ring rail 22, in thedofiing position.

It is noted that the horizontally extending stop portion 40 isvertically adjustable relative to the ring rail 22 by the elongate slot37 and bolt members 36 such that the lowermost limit of the downwardtravel of ring rail 22 may be accurately positioned such that the ringrail may not move downwardly past the lowermost end of bobbins 18.

To release the latch 42 and allow the ring rail 2'2 to move upwardly inits traversing movement, the operator places his foot against thetreadle member 28 and applies pressure to latch member 42 to move thesame rearwardly about pivot 43 against the action of spring 50 untilthelower front corner moves out of overlying relation to treadle member 28and allows the same to move upwardly through the action of thecounterweights. When the operator releases the pressure on latch member42, spring 50 returns the same to the normal position in the path oftravel of treadle member '28.

lIt will therefore be apparent that an improved latching mechanism forthe ring rail of a spinning frame is provided which limits the `downwardmovement of the ring rail and is automatically engaged when the ringrail arrives at the doffing position.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a spinning frame having a plurality of rotating spindles, a ringrail mounted for traversing movement longitudinally of said spindles, abuilder mechanism for moving said ring rail in said traversing movement,and a treadle member connected to said ring rail and movable therewith,said treadle member being adapted to be manually lowered to move saidring rail to a bobbin doffing position; the combination of (a) a latchmember mounted for movement between a first position wherein at least aportion thereof is disposed in the path of travel of said treadle to thelowered position and being adapted to overlie said ltreadle. when thesame is in the lowered position, and a second position spaced from saidfirst position and out of the path of travel of said treadle, said latchmember having a cam surface on said portion which is adapted to beengaged by said treadle as the treadle moves to the lowered position formoving said latch member from said first position to said secondposition to allow said treadle to move thereby, and

'(b) spring means biasing said latch member toward said first positionto normally maintain the latch member in the path of travel of saidtreadle.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said spring means comprisesa leaf spring mounted adjacent to and operatively engaging the side ofsaid latch member opposite from said cam surface.

3. In a spinning `frame having a plurality of rotating spindles, a ringrail mounted for traversing movement longitudinally `of said spindles, abuilder mechanism for moving said ring rail in said traversing movement,and a treadle member connected to said ring rail and movable therewith,said treadle member being adapted to be manually lowered to move saidring rail to a bobbin doffing position; the combination of (a) meansmounted `on said spinning frame and depending downwardly therefrom,

(b) stop means carried by said means and serving to define an abutmentfor limiting the downward extent of movement of said treadle member, and

(c) a spring biased latch member carried by said means and beingpositioned above said stop means and serving to define therebetween agap for reception of said treadle member when moved to lowered position.

4. In a spinning frame according to claim 3 wherein said means dependingfrom said spinning frame comprises a vertically adjustable member, andsaid latch member and stop means are carried by said member whereby thegap defined therebetween may be vertically adjusted by movement of saidmember to thus vary the extent of movement of the treadle member to thelowered position.

5. In a spinning frame having a plurality of rotating spindles, a ringrail mounted for traversing movement longitudinally of said spindles andmovable to a bobbin dofling position, a builder mechanism for movingsaid ring rail in said traversing movement and a treadle memberconnected to said ring rail for manual movement of said ring rail to thebobbin dotfing position; the combination of (a) stop means positioned inthe path -of travel of said treadle member and serving to limit thedownward movement thereof,

(b) a latch member having at least a portion thereof positioned in thepath of travel of said treadle member, said portion of said latch memberbeing positioned above said stop means and serving to definetherebetween a gap for reception of said treadle member when in loweredposition, said latch member having a cam surface on said portionengageable by said treadle member to move said latch member about itspivot to move the same out of the path of said treadle member to allowthe same to move theremember has moved `downwardly into engagement past,and with said stop means. (c) spring means operatively connected to saidlatch member for biasing sa-id latch member into the path ReferencesCited 1r1 the file 0f thlS Patent of travel of said treadle memberwhereby said latch 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS member portion is positionedin overlying latching relation to said rtreadle member when the treadle631524 Jenks Aug'22'1899

1. IN A SPINNING FRAME HAVING A PLURALITY OF ROTATING SPINDLES, A RINGRAIL MOUNTED FOR TRAVERSING MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SPINDLES, ABUILDER MECHANISM FOR MOVING SAID RING RAIL IN SAID TRAVERSING MOVEMENT,AND A TREADLE MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID RING RAIL AND MOVABLE THEREWITH,SAID TREADLE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY LOWERED TO MOVE SAIDRING RAIL TO A BOBBIN DOFFING POSITION; THE COMBINATION OF (A) A LATCHMEMBER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN AT LEAST APORTION THERE OF IS DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID TREADLE TOTHE LOWERED POSITION AND BEING ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID TREADLE WHEN THESAME IS IN THE LOWERED POSITION, AND A SECOND POSITION SPACED FROM SAIDFIRST POSITION AND OUT OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID TREADLE, SAID LATCHMEMBER HAVING CAM SURFACE ON SAID PORTION WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGEDBY SAID TREADLE AS THE TREADLE MOVES TO THE LOWERED POSITION FOR MOVINGSAID LATCH MEMBER FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION TOALLOW SAID TREADLE TO MOVE THEREBY, AND (B) SPRING MEANS BIASING SAIDLATCH MEMBER TOWARD SAID FIRST POSITION TO NORMALLY MAINTAIN THE LATCHMEMBER IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID TREADLE.